Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-13

Some Facts the New. Geo. Grenfel Has
Learned on the Congo.

A cablegram to the NY. Sun from London July %
says: The Rev. Geo. Grenfell who has travelled more
extensively in the Congo basin than and other man,
arrived from Africa few days ago. The highest
honor conferred by the Royal Geographical So
ciery upon distinguished travellers has been
awarded to him this year, and he has been over
whelmed with attentions from scientific and mis-
sionary societies and many noted men. He is now
spending few days in Brussels, where he has
been received by King Leopold
MI. Grenfell takes an encouraging view OF the
prospects OF the white enterprises In the Congo
nicely in all parts OF the Upper Congo where they
have been introduced. They are needed at all the
stations and several Of the stations already
have small herds. We have imported some asses,
but they suffer from the climate and are Of little
account for working purposes Curiously enough
IT is found that their offspring born in this coun-
try thrive and can be used advantageOuSly for
draught and riding purposes. have an ass that
has done good service on the Congo for five years
ut will be comparatively easy to construct the
railroad around the cataract but 1t will be best to
lay the track at q considerable distance south Of
the river, where there is quite level plateau The
Congo state and the missionaries are now paying
f3o q ton for the transportation Of goods around
the cataractS. On account of the cost OF transpOr
tation and the limited number OF porters only alb
SOlute neceSSarieS are taken to the Upper Congo
When left the river over 400 tons OF goods were
at Matadi awaiting porters to carry them around
the cataractS.
'The climate Of the lower Congo is very bad, but
the region or the upper river is relatively health
ful. The whites who engage in physical labor, or
who are on the march, have better health than
those who are occupied with mental labor at the
stations. White men should, II possible, avoid
going to the Congo during the rainy season.
There are no mountains in the entire Congo state
high enough TO afford secure retreat from bale
ful climatic influences, but several places like
Palaballa afford excellent sites for sanitariumS.
When Stanley went to the Congo he made the mis-
take Of building his stations the SUBMITS Of the
hills, where they were swept by breezes laden with
miasina. Experience has taught us that the sta
tons should be build on the TANKS OF the hills
sheltered from the prevailing winds"
Mr.. Grenfell Will return to the Congo early next
year. He says IT took him long time TO make
the blacks near LeOpodvile understood the real
character OF the Bible. They looked upon 1t with
terror as the white mans fetch, and believed 1t
could bring great evils upon them. A; length
small press and some type arrived at the station,
and portions OF the bible translated into the native
ldlOln were put into type and printed before the
eyes or the natives. AS soon they convinced
themselves that the whites were really making
Bibles they decided that 1t was human product,
and entirely lost their fear Of 1T. Some natives
VINO could not be hired to touch the Bibles that
the missionaries first brought among them learned
to read in The little books whose Manufacture they
had witnessed.